The Silver Queen [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran cradles her close, rocking slightly as he pets her hair, rubs her back. "Mind-" His voice cracks and he has to swallow before he can try again. "Mind magic. Olocaryn was Ozymandias. And Ozymandias was known for being very, very skilled with mind magics. If he... waited until you were distracted by... you wouldn't have noticed, I suspect. Few would."

[Isabela]

She swallows, shivering. "I think.... this was her game," she says, her voice hoarse, her cheeks drenched in hot tears. "For a switch, to play the submissive, let her husband draw me in, test me out, see how I behaved.... she would enjoy me for a few days, a sadist, then hand me off to him to sell." 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran scowls a little. "I shall... be sure to ask her about that. Carefully. I... I hope she was simply... broken and controlled. Perhaps even ensorcelled. That... would be better. A little, I think."

[Isabela]

"He... I hope you're right, that he cast on me. Otherwise he didn't r-rape me. She did."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran nods a little. "I had one of the boys grab his body." He'd learned his lesson about leaving rich slaver's bodies behind. "Perhaps Helene can pry some answers from there as well."

[Isabela]

She nods, closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing for now.

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran is quiet for a bit, just holding her (so hurt), just touching her (here, alive, warm and here). Winding her hair around his finger yet again, he suddenly chuckles. "So... guess what happened when Carver and I were pinned down in the basement..."

[Isabela]

"He kissed you?" she jokes. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Close," Zevran says with a grin.

[Isabela]

"What, really? Tell me everything," she says, with a small smile. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Well... we're sort of dating. I think. He confessed- it was very manly and stoic, I nearly teared up- and then we talked a little last night. He has... some things to work through, mostly about kids.  Evidently, his beliefs insist that being a family requires spawning." Zevran shrugs. "We're hoping to find a theologian at the Oak- ah, right, we're heading to the Oak to hopefully find healers. At the least, it's a safe, peaceful place to regroup and recover."

[Isabela]

"The oak, huh? Seems reasonable," she says, resolving not to dwell on why they haven't been back to that part of the Free Outlands in a while.

[Tethras Clan]

"Mmmh," Zevran says softly. "If we can't get the help we need there, we can head to Draslina but... that's a good ways away so..." Not much more in a straight go, but going around the mountains for safety's sake, it's a little further. A few days anyway.

[Isabela]

From Jalzaid? she doesn't ask. "Sure, of course."

[Tethras Clan]

"Less expensive too," Zevran says brightly, continuing his prattle. "Plus it's amusing to watch Carver try not to gape at Maeve. Or the mabari at the tree." Merrill would have loved to see the Oak...